Fraudulent OCC Correspondence

OCC Issues Alert on Fraudulent Correspondence

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency yesterday issued an alert about fraudulent correspondence — distributed via email, fax, or postal mail — involving funds purportedly under the control of the OCC and other government entities.

“The correspondence may indicate that funds are being held as a requirement for an issuance of a Money Laundering Clearance Certificate in reference to a release of funds  and that the beneficiary is required to pay a mandatory processing/issuance fee to have the funds released,” the OCC said. “The recipient is also instructed to submit a copy of his/her passport for identification purposes.”

The correspondence also may contain forged signatures of former or current agency officials, and it includes an email address and telephone number not associated with the OCC. The agency emphasized that any document claiming that the OCC is involved in holding any funds for the benefit of an individual or entity is fraudulent. Read the OCC alert. View a sample of the fraudulent correspondence.